The power of a chocolate fish A simple, but effective tip, from John Petry regarding employee performance management: A participant on one of our courses, John gave us this great idea and has generously allowed us to pass it on ever since. Every Friday, John gives out the Chocolate Fish Award. A chocolate fish is given for the most outstanding act by an employee during the week. The thing is, the act could be outstandingly good, or outstandingly bad.

Whilst it is usually a fun affair, the Chocolate Fish Award has some amazingly serious benefits:

* It makes recognising achievement a regular and positive occurrence.

* It makes it OK to acknowledge mistakes, and “stuff ups”.

* It provides staff with a neutral name and way to discuss performance. – “oh you must be aiming for this week’s chocolate fish!”  Or “what a doosey! That’ll be this week’s winner for sure!”

* It encourages you, the manager, to be aware of what is going on with your staff.

* And being a chocolate fish (while much-loved by most Kiwi’s) it is not valuable enough prize to engender resentment or counter-productive competitive feelings.

          If you would like to start a Chocolate Fish tradition at your place…

John’s rules:

• Only one per week is presented
• Keep the spirit of it fun and light
• Focus on the action, not the person
• Try and spread the award around (even if you have to get creative in what it might be for)

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